Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

F elix is the first to break the silence. “You’re right,” he says, his voice gruff but sincere. “Logan gave me a chance when no one else would. I owe him everything.”

I hold my breath, scanning the faces around me. The tension in the air is palpable, but something’s shifting.

Cat nods, her eyes shining with determination. “Me too. I wouldn’t be here without him.”

One by one, voices join in, a chorus of agreement rising like a wave.

“Logan believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Travis says, his voice stronger than I’ve ever heard it.

The energy in the tent is changing, skepticism giving way to resolve. I can see it in their eyes, the way they stand a little straighter, shoulders squared.

“So what’s the plan?” someone calls out.

I take a deep breath. “We create the most spectacular show this town has ever seen. We remind them why they loved the circus in the first place.”

Ideas start flying. Trapeze artists suggest new routines, clowns brainstorm fresh acts. Even the stagehands chime in with ways to make the show more dazzling.

The enthusiasm is contagious. I watch as the crew, once divided and uncertain, comes together with a shared purpose. They’re no longer just performers going through the motions; they’re a family fighting for one of their own. In fact I think that’s partly why they were fighting; they need to do something. Sitting around will make any of us go crazy.

As the brainstorming continues, I catch Travis’s eye. He gives me a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of what we’ve accomplished.

The circus isn’t just surviving. It’s coming alive with renewed passion and determination. And in this moment, I know we have a chance. Not just to save Logan, but to show this town—and ourselves—what the Cirque des Miroirs is truly made of.

The flap of the tent rustles, I glance up to see Maisie walking in, her face lighting up when she spots me. But it’s the tiny ball of fur in her arms that makes me grin.

Tricks bounds toward me, his little legs moving fast until he leaps into my arms, his tail wagging furiously.

“There you are,” I murmur, burying my face in his soft fur. He licks my cheeks with fervor, his tiny tongue warm against my skin. I laugh through my tears, clutching him close. For a moment, everything else fades away—the tension, the fear, the uncertainty.

Maisie kneels beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder. “What can I do to help?”

I pull back slightly, still holding Tricks but meeting Maisie’s eyes. The weight of everything crashes down on me all at once—the responsibility, the fear of failing Logan and everyone else here.

I brief her on the new show.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I whisper, my voice cracking under the strain of keeping it together.

Maisie’s expression softens, and she squeezes my shoulder. “Sienna, you have more heart than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Her words hit me like a gentle wave, soothing but insistent. She’s always been the one to believe in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.

“But what if that’s not enough?”

Maisie tilts her head slightly, giving me that expression she always does when she’s about to say something profound. “Heart isn’t enough—it’s everything. It’s what makes you fight for Logan and this circus even when things seem impossible.”

Hope rises in me. Tricks wriggles in my arms, reminding me of all the love and loyalty that still exists here—despite everything.

Maisie continues, “You’re not alone in this. We’re all here for you and for Logan. And you’ve got Tricks here to remind you of that every step of the way.”

Tricks squirms in my arms, licking my chin, as if reminding me that there’s still joy to be found even in the darkest moments.

I clutch him a little tighter. “Thank you. And, Maisie, we’re really going to need that social media stuff. Because we also have tickets to sell.”

Maisie’s head tilts. “You don’t think Forrester will buy them?”

“I don’t know, but the circus doesn’t want to perform for the people who are responsible for locking up Logan. And I understand that, actually.”

Maisie nods, her eyes filled with determination. “You’re right. In fact, this might even help us. We won’t just sell the tickets. We’ll auction them off. We can use this to build buzz for Logan’s situation. A cause is much easier to support if it comes with skintight leotards and triple backflips.”

I glance around the tent, where our makeshift family is beginning to rally together despite their doubts. “This just might work,” I say softly. “Maybe they needed this. Maybe I did, too.”

She looks at me, and I can see the same fire in her eyes that’s burning in mine. “We won’t auction all the tickets, though. We’ll save some for giveaways. Get a few minor celebrities interested. Let them use their platforms to get the word out about small-town corruption.”

“Yeah.” A small spark of hope ignites inside me again. “So it’s not just about the show, not even for the people attending. They’ll know what’s at stake, too.”

Maisie smiles softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’ve got this.”

Wolfgang’s imposing figure suddenly looms over us.

His eyes narrow as they land on Maisie. “What’s she doing here?”

I open my mouth to defend her, but Maisie beats me to it.

“I’m here to support my friend,” she says, her voice steady despite Wolfgang’s intimidating presence. “Which is more than I can say for you. Why are you always around when you’re not wanted?”

Wow. Maisie never talks like that. To anyone.

Wolfgang’s jaw clenches. “You’re a townie. You don’t belong here. This is circus land, and you’re on the enemy side now.”

Tricks tenses in my arms. Maisie, however, doesn’t back down. She stands taller, her petite frame somehow filling the space between us.

“Enemy side?” she scoffs. “I’m here for Sienna. And Logan. If that makes me an enemy, then your priorities are seriously messed up.”

Wolfgang takes a step closer, towering over Maisie. “You could be spying for the sheriff. Who knows? You need to leave. Now.”

To my surprise, Maisie doesn’t flinch. Instead, she tilts her chin up, meeting Wolfgang’s glare head-on. “Make me,” she challenges. “Throw me out if you dare.”

“You think I won’t?”

It should be laughable, this tiny blonde standing up to a muscled knife thrower. But there’s something in Maisie’s stance, a fire in her eyes that makes her seem invincible.

Maisie crosses her arms. “I think you know Sienna needs all the support she can get right now. And if you actually care about that, you’ll focus on the new show instead of being an asshole.”

Wolfgang’s eyes linger on Maisie’s face a beat too long. Maisie’s cheeks flush pink. Could they be… interested in each other? The thought seems absurd at first, but the heated exchange doesn’t make sense otherwise.

“Fine, but if I catch you causing trouble…”

Maisie rolls her eyes. “Please. I’m not the one with the problem here.”

Hang on a freaking second.

The tension, the spark between them…

It’s perfect.

“I’ve got it,” I blurt out, interrupting their bickering.

They both turn to face me.

“Got what?” Wolfgang says on a grunt.

“The theme for the new show,” I explain, excitement bubbling up inside me. “It’s going to be centered around romance. Based on Romeo and Juliet , but with a circus twist. We’ll call it ‘Star-Crossed.’”

Maisie’s face lights up immediately. “That’s brilliant, Sienna! It’s perfect for showcasing the circus acts while having universal appeal. The internet is going to eat this up with a spoon.”

Wolfgang, on the other hand, looks dubious. His brow furrows as he crosses his arms over his chest. “ Romeo and Juliet ? Isn’t it kind of… sad?”

“Not the way we’re going to do it,” I counter, my mind already whirling with possibilities. “We’ll use the circus acts to tell the story in a way no one’s ever seen before. Trapeze for the balcony scene, knife throwing for the fight sequences…”

As I speak, I can see the gears turning in Wolfgang’s head. He’s still skeptical, but there’s a glimmer of interest in his eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you,” I say, scooping up my little dog. “Come on, Tricks. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”